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Originally Posted by methecupid Prelude: I love to drive around (intermittent adrenalin rushes incl.), do 50 kms everyday to-and-fro from office & home, like a bit of snob value, might sell the car in 2 yrs or retain it till 5, and open to opinions .... thats where need your help guys. Hope you can make an informed decision. Looking forward. |
50 km everyday, snob-value, might sell the car in two years. If these are still your primary priorities, then the Polo makes more sense than the Jazz. 50 km everyday is quite a distance to do, and since you're looking at notching up the miles, a diesel should be the automatic choice.
You've also mentioned that you're looking to sell the car in 2 years or so. The Jazz, unlike other Hondas, might not carry very good resale value. The sales in India have been dismal, but seems to be picking up. On the other hand, I'm guessing the Polo will have better resale value 2 years down the line.
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Originally Posted by methecupid True!... i can't decide for myself, but maybe prioritizing is the best way forward, so here goes..
1) Performance: No! I am not a maniac on road, but i would like to have that zip at my disposal every now n then when i do want to have some fun (history: a 150bhp Nissan in the US, currently a Chevy OPtra and VW Jetta...) so every now and then i do like to puch down the pedal
2) FE: Contradicting to my earlier prority, i would like to have a decent figure at the end of every trip i make, considering the mumbai traffic and 50kms 'journey' everyday
3) Handling: I drive my car, and when am driven around... i usually doze off! Enough said
4) Snob Value: This is 'my' first car, but i would not 'like' to make any compromises. Couple that with a penchant for aesthetics, i would like to have a car that exudes a bit of class
5) Easy Maintenance: Bank of Dad has withdrawn, so here i am - all by myself trying to make ends meet! |
1) The Jazz is quite a slouch in the 1st/2nd gear. It's initial response is slow and might seem lethargic. But rev it beyond 3k RPM and the car's fantastic Vtec motor does what it's supposed to do. It literally catapults you and suddenly, you're closing in on three-digit speeds! So it is a good performer. The 3-pot diesel motor in the Polo is bad, but it does have much better bottom-end than the Jazz and it does produce a good amount of torque, so it isn't a bad performer. Just a little unrefined!
2) It's even-stevens here. The Jazz, if driven sedately, will give you astonishing FE figures. You'll be absolutely stunned! Within the city, it should give you not less than 12 km/l with the A/C switched on and on the highway, in 5th gear and cruising, expect it to jump to 18 km/l or sometimes, even beyond 20 km/l!
The Polo, being a diesel, should give you the economy a diesel promises. Besides, it's quite a small engine. So no surprises there.
3) The Jazz is known for its rather neutral handling. It does not inspire confidence like the Polo, but you can dart into and out-of corners effortlessly and it feels pretty stable even at 130 km/h on the highway. The ride is pretty good as well, but a little harsh at lower speeds only when driven over rough roads. And you will NEVER run out of space in the Jazz. It's almost as spacious as my Civic! So you can stretch your legs and relax when you're not behind the wheel.
The Polo, on the other hand provides good ride and handling. Possibly, better than the Jazz, but I'd say the difference isn't substantial enough for someone to choose the Polo over the Jazz only because of that! But one thing is for sure, it just isn't as spacious as the Jazz. And frankly, nothing is!
4) Snob Value: It's up to you here. Both cars offer snob value albeit of a different kind. The Honda enjoys snob-value here and since the Jazz isn't that common, you will manage to turn more heads than you think. It's quite classy and feels good. A mini-Civic if you will! Besides, it's a Honda, and generally, Hondas enjoy some snob-value in the Indian market. that should explain the premium all Hondas command here.
The Polo, being a VW, automatically comes with snob-value. There is no arguing with the VW badge.
5) This is where the Jazz wins hands-down. It just is one of the easiest cars to maintain. No hassles, no headaches. No frequent oil-changes, no frequent services. It goes about its business without a fuss. Very reliable! A great little car!
The Polo, well, I wouldn't count on it to be reliable. Being a VW, its spares should be comparatively more expensive than the Jazz's. Plus, you might need to visit the service station more often than you'd like. It's a German! You want the build-quality, you need to put-up with its reliability issues. As simple as that.
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I own a Jazz, and I'd give you first-hand info. It's arguably the best car sold in India today. Yes, it's slightly on the expensive side, and for what you pay, you'd expect it to have some deal-breaking features like auto-folding ORVMs and climate-control, but it doesn't have them! What it offers though, is something even C+ segment sedans are struggling to match. The space it offers is quite unbeatable! It's a very roomy and airy car inside, thus providing you with a calm and serene environment. It's a very reliable car and gives you almost complete peace-of-mind! It's powerful when you need it to be, and a great city car! And the boot is just shy of 400 litres, so you can put more than just your groceries in it! Our Jazz gobbled up 5 suitcases last month, and we were pleasantly surprised by that!
The Jazz is a sedan dressed up in a hatch-frock!
If your initial criteria still hold true, then a diesel makes more sense. But if what you've mentioned later is really your priority, then there is no better car than the Jazz.